Personal Development Training for me occurred throughout the entire trip, both on and off duty. I don’t believe it’s easy to describe quantitatively but I am more aware of what I have learnt on reflection. I see two major areas of learning on an individual level; one is how I organised myself and how that was affected by fatigue as the trip progressed, and the other is how I performed within a group in a challenging environment.

Exploring those points further, I am happy with my ‘personal admin’ over the trip; punctuality and preparedness cannot be over practised. Working as a team also proved to aid organisation on an individual level, for example, purchasing food and cooking for others. Group work was enjoyable, and without a doubt it enhanced learning of both diving and sailing. The diving was an excellent environment to learn and practice these skills because it provided situations that required close co-operation and effective communication, especially when serious injury or even death can be the result of the lack of either. The sailing provided less intense scenarios, but nonetheless allowed skills such as leadership and teamwork to become apparent from the skippers and crews respectively.

When living, working and socialising with a group for two weeks, personality traits become clear in yourself and others. I found this trip useful in awareness of these traits and how perhaps to avoid conflict or work together more successfully. People that don’t see ‘eye to eye’ tended to perform less effectively when diving or sailing.

Aside from personal and team skills learnt throughout, undertaking Advanced Open Water PADI and Sports Diver BSAC trining was a welcome bonus, and all members of the trip achieved at least one diving qualification. Out of the water, techniques were also picked up for living in close quarters with teammates. Being co-operative with each other enhanced team skills whilst diving and sailing but also created further ‘SUAS bonding’, which is both fun and useful as we work together over our time on the air squadron and perhaps further down the line into our RAF careers.

In summary, through my perspective, the trip was executed with leading to a completion of the Expeditions aims. Team work, leadership, bonding and diving qualifications were enjoyable skills to enhance. Not to mention it was a lot of fun!

Off Cdt Joe Allan

Southampton University Air Squadron